Leeds United had a major confidence boost after a comprehensive 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest ahead of their upcoming clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Leeds United head to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night in strong spirits after a convincing win over Nottingham Forest. The challenge, however, steps up significantly against a Chelsea side revived under new coach Liam Rosenior.
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Leeds bounced back after a defeat to Arsenal with an impressive win at Elland Road in their most recent outing and will now look to build on this positive momentum.
The team is emphasising a focused mindset ahead of the Chelsea game that has served the squad well this season. Speaking to Premier League Productions, Leeds’ captain Ethan Ampadu outlined the group’s approach.
Ethan Ampadu’s pragmatic stance on Chelsea return
Leeds United midfielder and captain Ampadu spent six formative years at Chelsea, but his focus is strictly on the present. When asked about returning to his former club, his reply was tellingly direct.
“It will obviously be nice to be back, but I am not thinking about it being Chelsea and going back there,” Ampadu stated. “It is just another game for Leeds United where we want to try to pick up more points.”
The sentiment fits the broader attitude he says the team has adopted. “I think what we have been good at this year is not dwelling on results, whether they have been positive or negative,” he explained. “We learn from all results, all games, and try to improve the next week.”
Ampadu, who joined Leeds for £7 million, is under no illusions about the quality his team will face. He acknowledged Chelsea’s enduring mentality, saying, “Chelsea are a club who always want to be at the top of the table and winning things. We know that is their mentality.”
However, his commitment to the Leeds cause was clear. He concluded, “We want to win this game of football. We go into games with the belief in our squad that we can play against anyone and get a good performance and a good result.”
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Ethan Ampadu continues to impress for Leeds this season
The Welshman has arguably been United’s player of the season so far, making the transition from the Championship to the Premier League seamlessly.
Unsurprisingly, Ampadu delivered another stellar midfield performance against Forest, and Leeds will have to rely on their captain being at his best again during the game with Chelsea to give the Whites the best chance of returning to West Yorkshire with a result.
Ethan Ampadu – Match Stats vs Nottingham Forest
Stat Value
Minutes 90
Key passes 1
Long balls (accurate) 4/5 (80%)
Tackles 1
Interceptions 1
Ground duels (won) 3 (2)
Aerial duels (won) 4 (4)
(Sofascore)
Ampadu is likely to have one of his toughest tests of the season so far when he will be tasked with the challenge of keeping Cole Palmer quiet during the game, but with the way Ampadu has performed this season, you wouldn’t put it past the 25-year-old to mark Palmer out of the game.
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